Traumatic Brain Injury: Life Changes

On October 7, 2018, I woke up like I normally would to get ready for a game day. I had
played the beautiful game of soccer since I was six years old and had aspirations to possibly
play in college and then go on to play professionally. What would end up happening instead was
not what I would have wanted before the situation occurred, but looking back now, it all
happened for a reason. This particular day changed my life by giving me the ability to realize that
progress will not be a straight path. It also taught me about what a family is and made me realize
that sometimes things happen to prepare you for the road ahead.

Though I am not able to remember that day well, other people who saw the accident
were able to fill in the gaps for me. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Sports and
recreational activities contribute to about 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among
American children and adolescents” (Traumatic Brain Injuries). I became a part of that statistic
that day in October when I was playing my primary position of goalkeeper. A striker came in at
full speed and her knee connected directly with my head. The CDC also states that I am
included in the “17% of traumatic brain injuries that occur from striking from or against an object,
such as sports injuries” (Traumatic Brain Injuries). After getting hit, my parents took me to the
emergency room where they took a CT scan, which luckily revealed no internal bleeding in my
brain. However, the next few months would be a bumpy road for me in many ways.

For the first month especially, I slept many hours each day. Once in physical therapy, my
physical therapist explained something called neuro-fatigue, also referred to as pathological
fatigue. The Brain Injury Association in the United Kingdom defines this type of fatigue by stating
“Normal fatigue is time-limited and alleviated by rest, whereas pathological fatigue, such as that
experienced following a brain injury, may be present most of the time” (Fatigue after Brain). It
may not improve with rest and is likely to significantly impact people and their ability to do the
activities they want to do. People who have personal experience with nero-fatigue are usually
able to explain it well. David Grant, a five-year TBI survivor, says “Neuro-fatigue is unlike
traditional weariness…With neuro-fatigue…the tired seeps to the level of my soul — it is
all-encompassing and all-consuming, sapping every bit of energy I have” (Life After Brain).
Because of the neuro-fatigue, I had no real energy to spend on things that made me happy like
being outdoors, playing sports, or going on long drives. There were so many days where I just
wanted to stay in bed and never get up. I wondered if it would ever end. One of the many
physical therapists that worked with me throughout my recovery told me something that I still
remember today, especially whenever I am having a day where I am dealing with my chronic
pain and fatigue. She said the words “I know that sometimes it’s hard to get up, but just getting
up is a way of telling your fatigue that you won’t give up. It’s a way to have a victory over your
current struggle.” For me, that meant that some days, just the act of getting up was progress.
Progress will not always be a walk that goes forward. You may have to take a few steps back,
and you may have to just take time to smell the roses before you continue on your journey.

During the recovery process, I was in physical therapy from approximately October to
April at Summit Strength Physical Therapy for both the issues from my TBI as well as the spinal
cord injury that I acquired from that injury as well. The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
has a mission to advance research regarding spinal cord injuries. The Foundation reports that
since both the spinal cord and brain are included in the Central Nervous System, an injury to the
spinal cord can cause issues with the brain and vice versa. This was the case for me and with
this particular injury, it allowed me the chance to spend extended amounts of time working with a
multitude of amazing people. Scott Knoche, who I spent most of my time with, became like a
second father to me. What I didn’t fully realize until later was how lucky I was to have a support
system like the one they provided me. They helped me with both the mental, emotional, and
physical aspects of my injury and taught me many life lessons along the way. On the more
difficult days, Scott and the rest of the group I worked with would sense my struggle without me
even saying anything and went out of their way to check on me and do what they could to
provide relief. I wasn’t just another patient of theirs, at least all of the staff at Summit Strength
didn’t make it feel that way. I had a special connection with just about everyone there, and I still
do to this day. Looking back now, I can firmly say that family isn’t just about who you share blood
with. It is instead, the people that love and care for you, and would help you at a moment’s
notice.

Spending so much time around physical therapists also made it clear that physical
therapy was not the field I wanted to go into. Knowing that I wanted to go into the medical field
was a very small part of figuring out what I wanted to do, but with a large number of jobs in this
particular field, the narrowing down process is extensive. I had started shadowing under the
head Athletic Trainer at my high school during the beginning of my sophomore year right before
my injury occurred. Later, in a class conducted by the head Athletic Trainer during my junior
year, I finally started to understand who was a part of the sports medicine team and what roles
they played. It is well known, at least within the medical community, that athletic trainers and
physical therapists overlap in their roles. Being able to see how physical therapists did their job
while I was in physical therapy allowed me to see how they were different. I enjoyed the “first
response” and thinking on your toes piece about athletic training, whereas physical therapy was
slower and more clinic-based. Plus, schooling for physical therapy takes a lot longer. Without my
prior injuries, including my concussion, I most likely would have had no interest in either one.
Ultimately, since I couldn’t play soccer anymore, being on the sidelines and helping the athletes
who played the sport that brought them joy was the alternative.

Even with the injury being more than two years ago, the situation has had a lasting
impact on my life and the way I live it. Though my traumatic brain injury was not something that
should have been a positive experience, it taught me a lot about life, even lessons that I did not
include in this evaluation. It gave me a circumstance where I was able to learn about progress
and family. It also provided me with a path towards a career that I wouldn’t have otherwise
chosen.

Works Cited
American Association of Neurological Surgeons. “Traumatic Brain Injury.” Aans.org,
www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Traumatic-Brain-Injury
Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. “Brain Injury.” Christopherreeve.org,
www.christopherreeve.org/living-with-paralysis/health/causes-of-paralysis/brain-injury.
Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.
Grant, David A. “Life after Brain Injury – A Five Year Lookback.” Brainline.org, 5 Apr. 2021,
www.brainline.org/blog/getting-back-bike/life-after-brain-injury-five-year-lookback.
Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.
Headway. “Fatigue after Brain Injury.” Headway.org.uk,